Netherlands Worried Bulgarians May Invade It, Eat Up Its Benefits

Bulgarians and other Eastern Europeans living on benefits pose a real threat to the Dutch treasury, as their number may increase even more significantly in the near future, Dutch Social Affairs Minister Henk Kamp believes.

Amid reports that the number of Eastern Europeans on benefits in the Netherlands has increased explosively to almost 12 000, Kamp has expressed his concern that it will cost the Dutch treasury hundreds of millions of Euros.

According to Radio Netherlands Worlwide, he referred to the borders with Romania and Bulgaria not yet being opened, saying "Who is to say that this figure won't rise to 30,000 or 40,000 soon?''

A large majority of MPs conservative VVD, Christian Democrats, Freedom Party, Labour Party, Party and Socialist Party expressed their support for cabinet plans to limit work permits for Romanians and Bulgarians until 2014.

Since July 1, Bulgarians and Romanians, as well as foreigners from outside the EU, are only granted a work permit in the Netherlands under "exceptional cases."

Recently, another EU member state, Belgium, refused to open its labor market to workers from Romania and Bulgaria on the grounds that many nationals of those countries already working there cheat the social benefits system.

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